Wednesday, March 10, 2010

St. Saviour's park plan unveiled

Although state funding for the land acquisition is in doubt, a preservationist group has unveiled a new look for the former site of St. Saviour’s Church in Maspeth.

Christina Wilkinson, president of the Newtown Historical Society, unveiled a photo rendering of what the 1.5-acre property at 57-40 57th Road would look like if purchased by the city and transformed into a park.

“I met with the residents who live around the site and they listed the amenities they would like to have in the proposed park,” she said at a Community Board 5 meeting last week. “It looks very nice.”

The features they requested include a wrought iron fence, walking paths, benches, restrooms, a playground for young children, a flagpole, a landscaped hill with a statue, and a thick line of trees shielding the park from noise and pollution along Rust Street, a main thoroughfare for trucks.

Now Maspeth park advocates are urging state lawmakers to resist Paterson’s proposals as negotiations begin on the state’s 2010-11 budget.

Plans to convert the site had garnered strong support from local lawmakers and approval from the city Parks Department late last year — Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe expressed interest in buying the space if the acquisition was publicly funded by elected officials. But without money from the EPF, any efforts to obtain the property, which a developer purchased for nearly $6 million in 2006, would be difficult.

Looks very nice, but I think its a dream that wont come true. (I am not saying that I dont want it to happen).

Look at gas tank park - still not open - they are still replacing grass that went moldy last year tress that were planted died - WHY ??becuase no one took care of it - Its a museum park- look from behind the railing!!

Actually, this is the perfect time for park projects. Land price is at a low point and therefore this is the best time for acquisition. It will be less expensive to buy the property now than to wait a few years for a better economic climate.

This wouldn't have been a bad project for the Obama stimulus last year. Too bad all that did was go to public sector unions. Otherwise, there is no money for this and it is a pipe dream. It would be a disgrace for the state or city to use funds for this in this economy.

Who says there is no money? Benepe said the elected officials should allocate the money for it from their respective pools. So that is what we have been advocating for.

And as others have pointed out, there is always money to be found, even in bad times. We're paying $100M for a golf course in the Bronx that was supposed to be built privately and $64M for a potato chip amphitheater in Coney Island. Surely we have a few million for a park project in Maspeth. Not finding money for a park in a community that needs one would be the disgrace.

Seriously, maybe it's time we demand projects that we want instead of having projects we don't want shoved down our throats. I fail to see how Willets Point will benefit me, especially when I read the reports about the traffic mess that will result. Atlantic Yards - same thing. Expansion of Javits Center - if we are building a convention center at Willets Point why do we need to expand the Javits Center?

Increase the Parks budget and build a park in every neighborhood that needs one. That use of tax money I can support.

You all have your heads in the sand. None of those projects that have not started yet are moving forward right now. The state and city have multi-billion dollar deficits. But Christina just says Oh, there is money! and poof, it should be there. Even if the city and State were flush with funds, this is a questionable project given its location. In a budget crisis? No way.

I admire people who don't give up and work on making the community better.

And if none of those projects are moving forward, why did the city just take title to Brooklyn Bridge Park, with plans to take title to Governors Island and the Javits Center? There's money for that but not this? The Golf Course in the Bronx is being worked on right now and the EDC is about to condemn Willets Point which means payouts to the owners. There's money for that but not this which would be about 1/300th of that cost?

You seem to be the one with your head in the sand (and a bug up your ass).

I doubt the city will give Maspeth a nickle.Bloomberg wants all them people dead or out

If built, It should have an open Gazeebo or "shead" so it can be used for events, summer music, receptions. Also-By giving these polititions a perch to blab is more of a chance you will get the $$ for it.I helpt draw up Mary Jane Davis Park in Manhasset and actually play there during summer (Monday night Music)

Parks don't generate revenue for the city. Commerce does. The comparision is not valid. Spending money on parks in Maspeth is like stareing a hurricane in the face and instead of using the money to buy storm windows and take other actions to shore up the house blowing the money on a european vacation. No, money should not be allocated to this ina budget crisis.

Building parks generates JOBS which is what everyone agrees we need right now. Amazing how we managed to build non-revenue generating parks during the Great Depression and managed to keep them open but can't figure out how to do that now. Also, parks increase property values and attracts business which in turn does generate revenue. And if concessions or rental fees are factored in, a park will generate revenue.

It really doesn't matter if you think money should be spent on this or not, it's up to the elected officials in that area. If their voting constituents express a strong desire for something, they will listen and in turn, react.

By multiple estimates, the Atlantic Yards arena will be a money loser for the city, yet we are pushing through with it and paying huge amounts of money for it. That is what you should be outraged about spending money on, not open space which fills a basic need in a community. If the city diverted the money that was going to that, we'd have a lot of money to pay for a lot of basic needs like parks.

Actually, there is a part of the EPF that is not being gutted, and the state parks commish suggested we apply for a matching grant for that money. That money has already been earmarked in the budget for projects like this and will not be reallocated for something else no matter how hard you wish for it. In addition, each council member, assembly member, senate member and the borough president has a discretionary fund which they may use toward city projects of their choosing.

If you think your money is better spent a different way, then petition your elected officials, just as we are doing. It's the American way.

Building a park creates a handful of temporary jobs. It doesn't increase long-term job creation. And a park at this location is not going to draw businesses. This is a spot with industrial buildings all around it, which is why very few people care if a park is put there.

COMET & Juniper Park Civic care - that's about 2000 right there, CB5 has listed it as a budget priority and the electeds are working on it.

Once again, it is not surrounded by factories, but homes on 3 sides as anyone who lives there or has visited there will tell you. And within 10 minutes walking distance are hundreds of other homes. With a million more coming, there will be a lot more living here soon, so its best we plan for the population growth now.

They are spending millions to convert a piece of land under the Kosciuszko Bridge into a park, where truly few to none live. Maybe you should redirect your anger toward that.

Last Monday, at Borough President Marshall's request, the acquisition of the St. Savior's site was included in the Queens Borough BoardPriorities that was adopted by the Board. It is now sent to the Mayorwith a statement that these are the priorities of the Borough of Queensfor his Executive Budget that will be released in April.

First of all, there's lots of things I don't like done with my money. Oh well, tough shit, as they say. Second, there is no raise in taxes because of this. It's money that's already in the budget. It's a matter of how dollars are allocated. And it's about time Maspeth got something in return for putting up with all the city agencies taking up space that could have been occupied by revenue-generating businesses. Instead we get the short end of the stick year after year while these agencies, which should be concerned about correcting problems in their own backyard, instead treat it like an outhouse.

IBO Director Ronnie Lowenstein last Thursday presented her office's revised forecast to the City Council Finance Committee. She expressed surprise at the city's relative financial health, reporting it would end the current fiscal year with a surplus of just under $3 billion.

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